The Kansas City Royals continue to be the surprise story of the baseball this season as the team continues to upset in the postseason. After winning the wild card spot over the Oakland Athletics, the team got the late win over the Los Angeles Angels in Game 1 of the ALDS series. Mike Moustakas hit a home run in the 11th inning as Kansas City took the first victory of the playoffs. They rallied against the Athletics and did it again against the Angels, so can they keep up the hot streak in Game 2?
The Angels are putting one of their top arms on the mound in hopes of evening the series against the Kansas City Royals. Matt Shoemaker was roughed up the last time he faced Kansas City, giving up eight runs in four innings, but after that he bounced back getting the Angels wins in his last eight games. The pitcher went 11-2 with a 2.09 ERA in 12 starts since then while also going 7-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his last stretch in the regular season. However, he is coming off a left oblique strain that left him out of the rotation to finish the year up, but Los Angeles is confident he enters the rotation with ease.
Los Angeles is hoping their batting order can step up after going quiet in the first game. Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Howie Kendrick and Josh Hamilton combined to go 0 for 18. Those are the best bats of the Angels and they got nothing from them. Chris Iannetta and David Freese managed home runs while Kole Calhoun was the only other player to register a hit in Game 1.
In hopes of keeping the momentum going in their favor, the Kansas City Royals will place Yordano Ventura on the mound to keep pulling off upsets in the postseason. After sneaking out the wild card win and the Game 1 in, Kansas City needs luck to stay in their favor. Ventura went 14-10 in the regular season with a 3.20 ERA, but is coming off a bad final start when he gave up four runs and eight hits in just four innings. He then entered the wild card game in the sixth inning only to give up a home run to Brandon Moss. Is this cause for concern for Kansas City? The team remains hopeful that Ventura returning as a starter will put him back in his efficient groove and get the team a 2-0 lead in the postseason.
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